Balzan regain winning touch

Balzan Youths 2
Mellieħa 1

Leaders Balzan Youths recovered from their setback to neighbours Lija with a 2-1 win over Mellieħa. Player-coach Ivan Zammit netted the all-important goal from a penalty.

Jonathan Francica and Clayton Caruana might have given Balzan an early lead. On another occasion, Mellieħa keeper Simon Gauci did well to keep out a Zammit shot.

Cedric Sciberras had a goal disallowed for an infringement on 27 minutes as Balzan held the initiative with Mellieħa hitting back with a David Fenech shot that was neutralised by Brian Bonello.

Mellieħa stunned Balzan on 34 minutes when Fenech hit home from a penalty, awarded after Balzan defender Sciberras had handled the ball inside the penalty box.

But the Northerners' joy was short-lived as four minutes later Balzan drew level when a good move by Zammit was finished off by Alistair Camilleri.

Balzan sustained the pressure after the break but their finishing was poor.

Six minutes past the hour, Balzan were awarded a penalty for a handball by Mellieħa defender Mario Debono. Veteran Zammit kept his cool to beat Gauci from the spot.

Mellieħa failed to react with Balzan retaining control.

Seven minutes from time, Wayne Borg St John could have snatched an unlikely equaliser for Mellieħa but failed to hit home after being put through by David Cauchi.

Balzan: B. Bonello, J. Agius (C. Micallef), L. Stivala (D. Agius), B. Bondin, C. Sciberras, J. Francica, A. Agius (T. Thomas), A. Lagana, C. Caruana, I. Zammit, A. Camilleri.

Mellieħa: S. Gauci, M. Debono (L. Attard), W. Borg, P. Camilleri, D. Fenech, W. Borg St John, R. Vella (K. Gauci), Ph. Camilleri, L. Cauchi, K. Said, D. Cauchi.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Melita 0
Mġarr United 0

Promotion-seekers Melita dropped two important points when they were held to a goalless draw by relegation strugglers Mġarr.

Melita can consider themselves unlucky not to have won the match as the division's leading scorer Matthew Borg I was twice denied by the woodwork.

Julian Galea shot just over the Mġarr bar after three minutes as Borg I was a whisker away from goal when his lob hit the crossbar.

Melita kept up the pressure and went close again through Gregory Degabriele and Galea and on another occasion Jonathan Mifsud hit just wide from close range.

Mġarr were holding their own in defence and relied on quick breaks to surprise their opponents. But it was Melita substitute Kane Micallef who came close to scoring but his shot was cleared off the line.

Melita then claimed that a shot by Matthew Borg II was stopped by Mġarr's Chris Gauci's hand in the box but the referee deemed otherwise.

Borg I was again denied by the woodwork right on the hour, this time his headed attempt smacked against the bar.

Melita never relented in attack and 11 minutes from time their optimism increased when Borg I advanced unimpeded into the opponents' box. However, Grech rushed out of his goal to avert the danger.

A minute from time Melita were again denied by the Mġarr keeper following a point-blank effort by Borg I.

Melita: M. Sapiano, J. Mifsud, D. Gravino, G. Gribbon, I. Bilocca, M. Hyzler (K. Micallef), M. Martin, M. Borg II (N. Zammit), G. Degabriele (S. Micallef), J. Galea, M., Borg I.

Mġarr: L. Grech, A. Portelli, N. Busuttil, W. Camilleri, C. Bugeja, C. Gauci (S. Camilleri), S. Aquilina, J. Said (M. Bugeja), J. Camilleri (P. Fenech), J. Micallef, S. Mizzi.

Referee: Thomas Debono.

Żebbuġ Rangers 3
St Andrew's 3

Żebbuġ looked to be on course for a comfortable win as they led 3-0 by the 35th minute but the Saints staged a strong comeback to draw level, leaving their opponents in deep relegation trouble.

Rangers enjoyed a dream start, opening the scoring in the ninth minute through Marlon Vella who profited from an indecision in the Saints' box.

Five minutes later the score became 2-0 following an excellent shot by Jonathan Sapiano that gave the keeper no chance.

The Saints could not get going and Żebbuġ were again close through Rio Micallef before George Saliba beat Tabone with a powerful drive from well outside the box 10 minutes from half-time.

Everyone thought that St Andrew's were in for a beating but on 40 minutes Matthew Calascione gave his team a lifeline with a well-taken goal from a tight angle.

The Saints improved after the change of ends.

After going close through Luka Desira Buttigieg and Michael Valenzia, they further reduced the deficit on 61 minutes thanks to William Camilleri who hit home from a Patrick Briscoe White centre.

Żebbuġ were now feeling uncomfortable with the Saints breathing down their necks. Gatt and Micallef had chances to ease Żebbuġ's nerves while at the other end, Duncan Galea stopped a Michael Valenzia free-kick.

In the 87th minute, the Rangers' stand-in keeper was beaten from another free-kick, this time taken by Calascione.

The Saints almost completed an incredible comeback in stoppage time but Briscoe White's header was stopped by the upright.

Żebbuġ: M. Pace (D. Galea), G. Saliba, G. Mallia, B. Galea, E. Calleja, E. Cachia, D. Gatt, R. Micallef, C. Tabone, J. Sapiano (L. Vella), M. Vella (R. Attard).

St Andrew's: F. Tabone, P. Briscoe White, B. Diacono, A. Amato, W. Camilleri (K. Galea), N. Vella Petroni (M. Grima), A. Camilleri Kamsky, L. Desira Buttigieg (E. Grima), M. Valenzia, M. Calascione, N. Chetcuti.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Sta Venera 3
Naxxar Lions 0

Sta Venera produced yet another creditable showing to emerge worthy winners at the expense of lowly Naxxar Lions.

Needing a win to get out of relegation trouble, Naxxar enjoyed an encouraging start as they tested the opponents' keeper with shots by Matthew Coleiro, Victor Bellia and Chris Farrugia.

Sta Venera had Antoine Galea delivering a perfect cross for Stefan Farrugia whose header was blocked on the goal line.

Naxxar were playing on a par with their opponents but on the hour, Sta Venera took the lead from a penalty, awarded for a foul on Mark Grech and converted by Farrugia.

The Lions tried to get back into the match but Sta Venera increased their lead 15 minutes from time with a close-range shot by Nathan Caruana after a good move by Mark Grech.

Four minutes later, Naxxar were dead and buried as Caruana made it 3-0 for Sta Venera.

Sta Venera: J. Mercieca, A. Galea, M. Muscat, Y.M. Law, A. Hili (L. Farrugia), S. Farrugia, M. Grech, R. Carbonaro (G. Frendo), A. Ellul (P. Chircop), D. Zuccaro, N. Caruana.

Naxxar: K. Agius, A. Catania, J. Mercieca, J. Sank (A. Bartolo), A. Bajada, M. Coleiro, V. Bellia (A. Delnegro), R. Sammut, M. Deguara (G. Sant), C. Farrugia, A. Fenech.

Referee: Sammy Attard.